Major Units
Minnesota National Guard Joint Force Headquarters The Minnesota National Guard has units in sixty-two communities statewide. The Minnesota Army and Air National Guard Joint Force Headquarters is located in the St. Paul Capitol complex.
- 34th Red Bull Infantry Division
The Rosemount-based 34th Red Bull Infantry Division oversees the training and operations of eight National Guard brigades in six different states. Known as the “Red Bulls,” the 34th Infantry Division is capable of deploying its Main Command Post, Tactical Command Post and Special Troops Battalion in order to provide command and control for Army Brigades.
The 34th Infantry Division fought in World War II and continued the legacy when the division assumed control of U.S. Division – South, Iraq, in May 2009.
The Red Bulls provided command and control of military forces in the southern third of Iraq. The area, known as US Division-South, is geographically about the size of Minnesota and is the largest sector in Iraq. Headquartered at Contingency Operating Base Basra, more than 1,200 Minnesota Citizen-Soldiers led a force of approximately 14,000 U.S. service members throughout nine of Iraq’s 18 provinces.
- 1st Brigade Combat Team
The 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 34th Infantry Division (1/34 BCT) is an Army National Guard Brigade Headquartered in Bloomington, Minn. The brigade is capable of supporting the nation in a federal capacity with trained and ready combat forces. Additionally, the brigade is prepared to support the state with both Soldiers and equipment to assist civil authorities during a crisis.
The 1/34 BCT conducted both state and federal missions in 2009 to include flood fight support in the Red River Valley, search and rescue operations, and security operations during the 44th Presidential Inauguration.
- 34th Combat Aviation Brigade
The 34th Combat Aviation Brigade (34th CAB) of the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division is an aviation brigade headquartered in St. Paul. In May, 2009 more than 700 brigade Soldiers returned from deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The 34th CAB supports the state of Minnesota with aerial fire suppression, reconnaissance, flood assistance, search and rescue and other emergency requests. In 2009, the brigade also supported our Canadian allies by cross-training 14 of their CH-47 “Chinook” pilots and aircrews for their deployment to Afghanistan. This training took place at the new Army Aviation Support Facility in St. Cloud.
- 133rd Airlift Wing
The 133rd Airlift Wing is a Minnesota Air National Guard Wing headquartered in St. Paul. Utilizing the C-130 Hercules, the 133rd Airlift Wing provides the U.S. Air Force with tactical airlift of troops, cargo and medical patients anywhere in the world.
The 133rd Airlift Wing’s C-130 flew 3,017 hours, hauling 1,076 passengers and 95 tons of cargo around the world in 2009 as well as deployed more than 300 Airmen to Iraq.
At home, in 2009, the 133rd Airlift Wing supported a short-notice request by NASA’s Haughton-Mars Project to transport its Moon-1 Rover to Resolute Bay, Canada for field testing. In 2010, the 133rd Airlift Wing will continue to provide tactical airlift of troops, cargo and medical patients supporting military operations worldwide.
- 148th Fighter Wing
Winner of the Air Force’s Raytheon Trophy for 2009, the 148th Fighter Wing is a Minnesota Air National Guard wing headquartered in Duluth.
The 148th Fighter Wing provides the U.S. Air Force with combat Air Sovereignty and Air Defense. Airmen of the 148th Fighter Wing stand prepared to support the State of Minnesota with Airmen capable of responding to homeland security incidents or natural disasters. In 2009, more than 300 Airmen deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan, and the unit flew 2,394 sorties totaling 5,300 flight hours.
At home in 2009, the 148th Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit responded to 17 off-base calls from local law enforcement in Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin. The 148th Airfield Fire Department responded to 233 calls for support from the Duluth International Airport and three mutual aid calls from local fire departments.
The 148th Fighter Wing stands ready, in 2010, to support missions both home and abroad.
- 84th Troop Command
The Minneapolis-based 84th Troop Command provides field artillery, chemical, and engineering capabilities for both federal and state missions.
Units within the 84th Troop Command deployed multiple times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Falling under the 84th Troop Command is the CERF-P: the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High Yield Explosive (CBRNE) Enhanced Response Force Package. During the 2009 flood fight, the 84th Troop Command’s 850th Engineer Company providing quick reaction forces and evacuation assets in 6 cities located in Cass and Barnes counties North Dakota during its temporary assignment to the North Dakota National Guard.
- 347th Regional Support Group
The 347th Regional Support Group (347th RSG), headquartered in Roseville, provides specialized capabilities such as military police, personnel, medical, finance, and human resource services.
In 2009, the 347th RSG deployed the 34th Military Police Company to Basra, with the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division, and also deployed the 114th Transportation Company to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
- 175th Regiment (Regional Training Institute)
The 175th Regional Training Institute provides combat arms, leadership, military occupational specialty and general studies training for the Army National Guard, Army Reserve and active component Army Soldiers at Camp Ripley.
In 2009, the 175th Regional Training Institute successfully trained 47 commissioned officers and 18 warrant officers, and trained Soldiers and units for deployment at maximum combat readiness levels.
- Camp Ripley Training Center
The state-owned, 53,000-acre (210 km2) Camp Ripley Training Center is “The Warrior’s Choice” for training in Minnesota. This multi-faceted training center serves as a world-class military training center for all branches and components of service with such facilities as a UH-60 Black Hawk simulator, Improvised Explosive Device training lanes, an Unmanned Aerial System landing strip and a Collective Training Facility range.
Minnesota state agencies also rely on Camp Ripley’s exceptional facilities for training. Community interest groups across the spectrum of Minnesota life utilize Camp Ripley for its resources, expertise and commitment to award-winning environmental stewardship.
See detailed list of Minnesota National Guard units.
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